I. Greetings and Prayer (Colossians 1:1-12)

I. Greetings and Prayer (1:1-12)

1:1-5 Paul and his “son in the faith” Timothy (see 1 Tim 1:2) greeted their brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae. Paul wished them God’s grace and peace—that is, God’s favor and wellbeing in life (1:1-2). These believers had a vertical-horizontal connection: their faith in Christ (vertical) could intersect with their love for the saints (horizontal) because both came from the same hope that was waiting for them (1:4-5). The gospel not only offers the hope of eternal life but also rewards us in this life (1:5).

1:6 Paul saw the scope of the gospel as universal. God’s good news in Jesus Christ isn’t reserved for a privileged few—any person in the world may respond to the grace of God. It is also productive, since it was bearing fruit and growing. Truth will always bring change, development, and growth.

1:7-8 Epaphras was evidently the founder and teacher of the church at Colossae (1:7). He brought good news back to Paul that they were bearing fruit. It was a loving, caring, faith-filled congregation.

1:9-10 When God wanted to explain what knowing him would produce in the lives of Christians, he used the word fruit. Fruit has three characteristics: it is visible; it reflects the nature of the tree it grows on; and it exists for someone else’s benefit. God is concerned that what we produce is in keeping with who he is—that the products of our lives are consistent with our biblically grounded experience with him. Sometimes, though, when we look over our lives, we’ll see rotten fruit. That should concern us, too.

Paul never stopped praying for the spiritual growth of the church in Colossae (1:9). He connects bearing good fruit with the knowledge of God (1:10). This is experiential knowledge, not just informational. When Adam knew Eve, she conceived; that intimacy produced fruit. Paul asks the Lord that the Colossians would have the wisdom to make biblically-based decisions that come from knowing God’s will (1:9). Then he prays that the walk of their Christian life (how they live) would result in every good work (1:10). The product of all of this is fruitfulness, having a useful Christian life that positively affects the lives of others. On the basis of our experience with him, God produces something in our lives that is beautiful, enjoyable, and useful.

Most of us want to bear good fruit. The problem is that though many Christians hear about God and carry his book around, they’re not really getting to know him, not really experiencing him. To bear fruit, which is contributing to the development of Christ-like character in the discipleship of others, we need to be grafted into “the true vine” (Christ), to be lifted up out of the dirt, to set aside our diversions, and to “remain” in Christ (John 15:1-8). You don’t just visit God for two hours on Sunday; you talk to him all the time, threading the discussion through all of your activities. While you’re walking or while you’re driving, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do” (1 Cor 10:31), stay plugged in. You don’t need a microwave experience with God; you need a crockpot experience with him. Simmer in his presence, and impact the lives of others with the impact the Lord has on you.

1:11-12 Paul prayed that they would have great endurance and be joyful (1:11). Endurance usually involves inconvenience and an unpleasant experience. A pregnant woman, for instance, endures significant inconveniences and unpleasant symptoms. But the joy of what awaits her at the end of her trial overrides any inconvenience. For Christians, God has a spiritual inheritance prepared (1:12). Most of that inheritance awaits us in eternity, but God grants access to enough of it now that you are spiritually equipped to fulfill his kingdom purposes for you.